BUT GOD HAS SHOWN ME ...

Is it not amazing that over a third of the book of Acts passes before the early church wakes up to God's intention of spreading the Gospel even to the Gentiles?

In chapter 10, here is Peter, one of Jesus' inner circle. He has walked with Christ. Witnessed the death, resurrection, and ascension. Experienced the filling of the Holy Spirit. Practiced miraculous signs and wonders and healings. And suffered persecutions.

And yet it takes three repetitions of a supernatural vision - a sheet dropped down from heaven with all kinds of animals - to impress upon him God's openness to the entire world. Not just the Jewish people. 

This was a blind spot a mile wide. And Peter was far from alone.

I think modern Christians fail to recognize how ingrained the Jew/Gentile divide was and how much of the New Testament is written to address the scandal of God's concern for, love of, and sovereignty over, yes, even the Gentile world. 

We take it as a given. Peter obviously did not.

So eventually he finds himself in front of the Roman centurion, Cornelius, and his entire family. And Peter explains, "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him." (Acts 10:28)

But then come those thrilling words: "But God has shown me..."

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Was it really unlawful by Old Testament standards for Jews to associate with Gentiles? 

No. This was more of a cultural taboo that had grown out of some specific rabbinical rules. 

So kudos to Peter for allowing the Spirit to overrule even deeply ingrained cultural biases.

Maybe we all could adopt "But God has shown me" - when we need it - as an easier alternative to saying "I was really wrong".